BIR vows to reduce requirements for transactions

- BIR has taken the necessary measures to reduce the number of days of processing and the number of documents needed in releasing tax certificates

- BIR has long been branded by many Filipinos as an agency of “red tape”

- With only three documents required, more applicants are expected to apply for a tax clearance certificate

BIR vows to cut 'red tape'. Photo from www.rappler.com

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is bent on making BIR operations faster, smoother and without the much abhorred “red-tape.”

The agency has already taken initial steps to minimize, if not entirely diminish, red tape in the release and processing of tax clearance certificates.

One of the means employed by the agency was to ensure that the number of days that would be required before the tax clearance can be released would be reduced to two days. Before, applicants would have to wait for several days before they get a hold of their certificates.

Aside from reducing the processing time, agency also reduced the number of documentary requirements for the tax clearance certificates. From the daunting number of nine documents, the documents needed are down to three.

For tax certificate clearance, applicants only need to submit the notarized application, printed copy of the certification fee, which is paid using the electronic filing and payment system along with a payment confirmation. The last document is the delinquency verification, which would be issued by the BIR office where the taxpayer resides.

From the time the required documents have been submitted, the agency also made sure that the number of days that applicants would wait for the issuance of certificates authorizing registration will be reduced from 10 days to only 5 days. With the goal of efficiency, it is expected that the number of certificates to be processed by the agency will increase.

The BIR has long been scrutinized for “red tape” that seems to be intertwined with the processing of any tax requirements. With these measures taken by the agency, it is very likely for people to change their perception of the agency into something good and worthwhile. –SD, Kami Media